Anomalies in the slow polarization kinetics of a ferroelectric relaxor in the temperature region of a diffuse phase transition

It is shown experimentally in the specific example of Cr-doped barium-stron tium niobate that the anomalies in the infralow-frequency dielectric proper ties characteristic of a ferroelectric relaxor persist over the whole tempe rature region of the diffuse phase transition and decrease gradually with i ncreasing temperature. Experimental data are presented on the anomalous qua si-static dielectric hysteresis loops, the slow polarization kinetics, and the anomalously broad energy-distribution spectra of potential barriers. Th e anomalies are a signature and a quantitative measure of the structural di sorder typical of a relaxor. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".